Investigation of bioreactors by smart sensor particles


Investigation of bioreactors by smart sensor particles

Reinecke, S. F.; Hampel, U.

Advanced monitoring of the spatio-temporal distribution of process parameters in the large-scale vessels of chemical or bioreactors, such as industrial fermenters, biogas digesters and activated sludge basins, offers a high potential for the investigation and further optimization of plants and embedded processes. However, in most industrial scale applications the acquisition of these parameters and their spatial distributions in the large-scale vessels is hampered by the limited access to the process itself, because sensor mounting or cable connections are not feasible or desired. Therefore, state of the art instrumentation of such reactors is commonly limited to few spatial positions where it is doubtfully assumed that the measured parameters are representative for the whole reaction mixture.
Instrumented sensor particles have been developed by Thiele et al. [1] for investigation of hydrodynamic and biochemical processes chemical reactors and bioreactors. The sensor particles allow autonomous long-term measurement of spatially distributed process parameters in the chemically and mechanically harsh environments of agitated industrial vessels. Each sensor particle comprises of an on-board measurement electronics that logs the signals of the embedded sensors. A buoyancy control unit enables automated taring to achieve neutral buoyancy and thus flow-following capabilities of the sensor particles [2]. Moreover, controlled floating of the sensor particles is possible to expose them for recovery from the fluid surface. The paper presents results of the sensor system validation and tests in an air-water column reactor, a pilot biogas digester and a waste water treatment plant. Moreover, ongoing developments of smart sensor particles features, i.e. magnetic position detection and inertial position tracking, are presented.

  • Lecture (Conference)
    ProcessNet-Jahrestagung und 33. DECHEMA-Jahrestagung der Biotechnologen 2018, 10.-15.09.2018, Aachen, Deutschland
  • Open Access Logo Abstract in refereed journal
    Chemie Ingenieur Technik 90(2018)9, 1268-1268
    Online First (2018) DOI: 10.1002/cite.201855298

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-28056
Publ.-Id: 28056